Electric Ireland is teaming up with the GAA to offer clubs the opportunity to save money through greater efficiency in energy use and management.
This is part of the ESB’s standing as Official Energy Partner to the GAA and is a concrete way in which the scale of the organisation as a whole can benefit smaller units through to clubs across the country.
EnergyFit is an energy management and training programme for sports clubs run in partnership with independent company FutureFit.
It aims to reduce energy costs for GAA clubs by up to 40% through a combination of better tariffs, housekeeping and energy-saving investments such as LED floodlighting, insulation and solar hot water. As part of the programme FutureFit will advise clubs on how they can reduce their own energy bills.
The EnergyFit offering will include:
- A professional energy assessment to identify energy efficiency opportunities
- SEAI approved energy map training and materials for club representatives
- An agreed club energy statement outlining its commitment to efficiency
- An energy action plan with recommended no, low and higher cost actions
- Analysis of energy bills to identify competitive energy billing rates and charges
- Free electricity monitoring for the first 3 months
- Where good potential is identified, and the club decides, FutureFit will co- ordinate an application to SEAIʼs Better Energy Communities fund where a club can receive up to 50% grant funding for energy-saving investments
An important element of the programme is the possibility of clubs to avail of SEAI’s Better Energy Communities grant funding though submissions for this need to be made by the end of March.
If a club signs up to the EnergyFit programme, after their energy assessment FutureFit will act as lead partner for a submission to SEAIʼs BEC program on behalf of the club and will coordinate and submit the application. If they are successful, FutureFit will coordinate contractors, including tendering, quality control, project management of pre-site and on-site works, Health and Safety management for works and so on.
The initial cost for clubs to participate is €1,500 but some of this may be recouped at later stages.
